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When it comes to designing logos, one has to think beyond the fonts. The overall design has to be something exceptional, should represent your brand, and clearly communicate the message your brand is trying to convey to the targeted audience.
Although we are well aware of the fact about role of typography in logo designs, however, that’s just one of the elements. If you are looking to experiment with different font styles in your logo, then we will recommend Creative Fabrica as it has a wonderful free font resource that you can use to explore and experiment with various looks and find the right font that matches your logo style.
Strike the Right Balance Between Simplicity and Meaning
When it comes to the appearance and the overall look of a logo, there are instances where a strong logo will appear to be simple, but it will be carrying substantial meaning. That’s the true power of simple logos, as they are easy to recognize and remember.
For example, Apple and Nike logos are iconic, and their brands use clear and straightforward shapes that you can identify and recognize instantly, even if there is no text around them. Their logo has become their brand identification.
That’s the rule you should follow. You need to focus on maintaining a simple yet clean look while making sure the design aspect doesn’t become too cluttered with unnecessary details that could possibly confuse those who are looking at it.
By having a simple and clutter-free design, we never meant to say that your logo should not be telling any story. It should have a story while clearly reflecting the core values and the message of your business.
Just to give you an idea, if you own a bakery and are planning to create a logo, then you would be incorporating elements related to bread and also adding some warmth in the design, as these aspects would help your customers directly connect to what you do and what services you offer.
This is exactly the technique that helps communicate to your targeted audience regarding what your business is all about, that too at a first glance.
As Md Tamzid Mahmud Angkon wisely stated, “Your logo is your business’s first point of contact with the world. If people connect with your branding, they’ll be more open to what you’re offering. Great logo design requires a mix of design expertise, creative theory, and technical execution.”
This quote reminds us that logos are more than just attractive visuals, and they must forge a connection with your audience.
Choose Colors That Convey Powerful Messages
Colors are a fundamental part of your logo and the overall brand identity. Based on color psychology, every color has such qualities that it can induce certain emotions, impact behavior, and greatly affect your mood.
For example, blue conveys trust and calm, and red can be exciting or bold. When you are selecting colors for your logo, it is important to consider the emotional impact you want to create.
When choosing the number of colors, it’s always best to stick to two or three colors. Too many hues can make the design appear chaotic and hard to understand.
You may also need to think about how your logo will appear in black and white, this is because there are situations where logos are often presented in places where color isn’t an option, like stamps or print ads. That is why it is really important to have a design that works well without color.
Your color choices should also complement your font and the overall shape of your logo. For example, if you have a bold, thick font, then having soft colors can provide a nice balance. On the other hand, if your font is light and airy, then you should be using stronger, darker colors, as that would make the logo stand out more.
Choose Shapes That Reflect Your Brand’s Identity
When it comes to your brand’s identity, the shapes you choose directly impact the overall appearance of the logo, and so do the colors. Just like colors, shapes also provoke different feelings.
For instance, the circle shape can suggest unity and community, whereas the triangle symbolizes creativity and energy, and the square sends signals of strength and stability.
Whenever you are designing a logo for your brand, you need to think about the shape that best aligns with your overall brand identity and personality.
If you are a tech company, then you might want to select angular and sharp shapes, which remind of innovation. However, on the other hand, when it comes to designing a logo for a yoga studio then you should be using softer and rounded shapes to reflect harmony, calmness, and peacefulness.
Just like with the colors, the shapes, and the overall design, you are going to choose should need to work harmoniously with the font, and everything has to be balanced. You should always try to prevent one component from overpowering the other part of the logo.
The ultimate goal is to have a design that is balanced in such a way that the overall shape and the design complement each other.
Test Your Logo Across Various Sizes and Contexts
We all know the reason for having a logo and at how many different places it is placed. Logos are meant to be placed and even showcased at a variety of settings, including full-size posters at an event, to a tiny website favicon.
The important point to consider here is that we need to make sure the logo looks perfect and recognizable at all sizes, no matter where it is placed. The design should be something that looks perfect not only on a computer screen but even on a hard-to-read device like a mobile phone.
A quick way to test this is to simply print your logo and try to place it on a variety of settings just to see how it looks and feels, visually. And as we have pointed out in the color selection section, you need to test this as well, so print your logo in both black and white as well as in color.
This whole exercise, although a bit time-consuming, will surely be going to help you spot any issues way before your logo becomes official and starts being used widely. Another aspect that you might realize at this point is that simple logos are going to perform better in a variety of sizes because they provide better visibility and are far easier to recognize as well.
Choose Fonts Wisely for Your Logo Design
When you are designing a logo, fonts play an important role, and it is important for you to make sure to select the right one.
Based on my experience, I would say the serif font family gives your logo a trustworthy and classic feel while adding more character to it. Whereas, the sans-serif font family will offer you a more modern and clean appearance. And then there are script fonts that offer you the expressions of sophistication; however, these, at times, become difficult to read.
I recommend that you use one font family, or at most two font families, when designing your logo. Otherwise, your design will look overloaded and cramped, making it appear disorganized. You can also experiment and test your font by using two different combinations of font styling, i.e., bold and regular. This would allow you to have a perfect contrast.
Although not all fonts are available for free, for the sake of experiment, you can try a lot of free font resources readily available online, where you don’t have to spend any money. You can easily perform various tests and find out which font style and family would be the best fit for your logo.
Make Your Logo Unique and Memorable
There are certain characteristics that your brand logo has to have, which include being easy to remember, impactful, unique, and it has to stand out. Another aspect that could add uniqueness to your design is to avoid copying any popular or well-known design. You might also be mindful when using fonts or shapes that are overused.
Your brand logo has to have a unique element, whether it is in the form of color, detail, or shape, which is what helps set your design apart. So, before you are going to finalize your logo, you need to double-check and fix any resemblance to the logos of other companies within your industry. This will help avoid legal issues and confusion among the people.
Concluding Thoughts
Designing a logo that stands out requires a lot more than just picking the right font family and styling. When it comes to creating a brand identity that shows through the logo, here are some essential points that you need to consider:
- Design has to be simple yet meaningful
- Colors should communicate and represent your brand’s message
- Shapes have to be well aligned with your brand’s personality
- Test your logo across different sizes and platforms
- Ensure your logo is unique and memorable
A logo is mostly the first impression that your targeted audience and the people are going to have of your business. So, it is important that your logo makes a strong and lasting impact and also establishes a connection with the people.
By focusing on each one of these logo design elements and the fonts and styling, you will be able to create a trademark and brand identity that truly represents your brand and stays memorable for years to come.
